In a week where optimism was slowly creeping back into the red side of Manchester, reality decided to deliver a swift kick. Ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United have been hit with a trifecta of injury woes, throwing yet another spanner into Ruben Amorim's tactical machine.
United travel to North London this Sunday fresh off a dramatic FA Cup comeback against Leicester, but their squad is looking thinner than a budget airline's legroom.
The biggest blow? Defensive linchpin Lisandro Martinez is officially out for the season after undergoing surgery for an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount continue their extended stays in the medical wing, where frequent flyer miles should be a thing.
Goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton both missed the Leicester game, and Jonny Evans remains sidelined with a calf problem.
If that wasn't enough, Amorim has confirmed two fresh injury concerns, while another unnamed player has fallen victim to illness-because, apparently, even viruses want a piece of United's season.
Pre-Match Drama: Amorim Throws a Subtle Jab at Spurs
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Amorim admitted things were looking relatively stable-until they weren't.
"It was a good week... until two days ago. Then we had some problems. We don't have players coming back, but we have one or two new issues. And one player is sick. We'll see what we can do at the weekend."
Vague? Yes. Ominous? Absolutely. But that wasn't the only headline-grabbing moment from the presser. When asked about his counterpart Ange Postecoglou, Amorim decided to stir the pot just a little.
"I'm a big fan of Ange. But let's be real-I'm managing a bigger club."
With both managers under scrutiny, it's safe to say the heat is officially on.
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